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Birds of Chagos

An estimated 50 different species of birds have been recorded throughout the Chagos Archipelago including land-based birds as well as many species of seabird.

 

Due to its remote location, it is unlikely that Chagos was ever home to a native land-bird community. When the islands were first colonised by people, a number of birds were introduced as a food source such as the Madagascan Turtle-dove and the Red Jungle Fowl. Those species that flourished now form the bulk of the recorded land–birds throughout the islands and are especially prominent on Diego Garcia due to the human presence.